WestEddy

Lineup construction is a different argument from Robert's abilities and ceiling. People feel compelled to shift focus from Robert to lineup, roster and culture issues because for the last 2 seasons, Robert has OPSed 15% below average. I agree with you that Robert seems to be coming around, offensively. There are positives to be gleaned from keeping him just as there are to trading him for an interesting return. I vote for trading him, more based on the fact that he's not part of the future, could offer opportunity to blocked or challenged post-hype dudes, and boredom. My main argument is that any TDL return isn't going to be better than now. Robert covering CF is value that we're mostly discounting.

You are correct, and I agree with you. I even shut up when the Lenyn Sosa/low IQ stuff gets going because I think that's of the same ilk. There's even been a study about announcer opinions when it comes to white vs. non-white players. I believe that Robert works hard, harder than any of us can imagine. I think all these guys think baseball in ways none of us can.

I don't think Robert lollygags, or any of that. What I said was more in response to the arguments about Robert perking up after Colson and Teel were promoted, or the "protection in the lineup" canard.

The more I read and respond to this, the more it cements in my mind that Luis Robert is a 2 bWAR/162 player who will only play around 100 games, so you'll get about 1 bWAR by end of June, mostly predicated on his speed and defense. He won't stay healthy. He won't hit the way we hope for. He's going to hit for about 15% below league average. There's no magic hitting streak that's going to pry loose somebody's #101 prospect that can explode in our system. 2023 is the curse that makes up believe there's a monster pent up in there. There isn't. Look at his batting average drop precipitously over his career, year by year.

I do not argue that Robert works hard. But I do think he thinks too much, or gets brought down by losing, or whatnot. A bunch of the arguments here center around putting a stronger lineup around him to protect him. Health is no longer a wild card, unfortunately. I think Getz is riding the line. We could use him for 4 months in CF. We're not trading him for scraps. That's established. Robert does have unrealized "ceiling" tied up in him continuing to mature as a hitter, getting better players around him, etc. Average major leaguers shouldn't really be talked about in those terms. They should plug in and produce at the rate they're known for, not only if you do a bunch of other things to "protect" or motivate him.

The JR vs. Boras thing has pretty much worked its way out, hasn't it? It's not really a concern that JR avoids Boras, he avoids the big money. And Boras is big money.

If they got Chase Petty and the Comp pick, I'd do it. Maybe Getz is holding out for that other player. I don't think Robert has more value than the field right now. There is potential ceiling, but he's going to be injured for a chunk, he is going to sulk, he does need motivation to produce. I just don't think there will be much more value or interest at the trade deadline, regardless of what Robert does in the first 4 months.

I've always held out hope for Robert to regain that prowess he had in 2023. But if you take a sober look at his B-R page, he's been available roughly 100 games in 3 of the last 4 seasons. He's put up 1.4 bWAR and 85 OPS+ in the last 2. I mean, that's a league average production when he's in the lineup. But if you're banking on packing a lineup around the guy to make him better, maybe you could just go out and find somebody who gives you what Robert does for cheaper, or develop a better CF. Jose Abreu was always a good hitter. When playing on garbage teams, he still put in his work and hit like he was supposed to. Robert should be the guy who makes Colson and Teel better, not the other way around.

You have a backup defensive CF right now in Derek Hill. I don't think Hamilton's a major league option anymore. I tooted the horn for Bleday, also, but he's really not a full-season plan B in CF. The more I read about this, the more I like that the Sox stayed away from Bleday, and the less I consider him an obstacle to a Reds trade. He is, in that the Reds could mumble something about liking their roster and back away from the White Sox, but Bleday is a clear step down from Hays. And they still need a RH bat.

Derek Hill plays CF, tho. Bleday is a backup OF who does not specialize in CF. Bleday has negative defensive value.

I'm on the fence in all directions. I'd rather they trade Robert, as I'd like the roster churn and new hope for whatever they throw out into CF. While keeping Robert does keep a positional hole off the todo list, he adds pressure to have a backup who won't hurt you for 60 games. That's 2 solid months. Robert's value is most probably at its highest right now. There's an entire season of conditioning and usage a team could obtain. There are more teams in the demand chain. The Reds, Pirates and Giants most probably aren't kicking the tires on 2 months of CF if they're playing .500 ball on July 15.

The Cedric Mullins deal was trading crap for a body. It was 3 minor league bullpen arms, one of which was a converted shortstop. You're exchanging the prospect of getting a guy you would work with and have a useable #4 arm, or 4th OF now - for bulk garbage in July.

But this season in particular, "building Robert's value" costs 4 months of playing time, eating away at the same value you're building. His dreamy ceiling is worth as much now as a 2-month rental bat. Besides that pickle, I think the league's wise to Robert. If they get him now, they could use that 100 games in CF. If they get him at the TDL, they could really be paying him to hang out at Athletico for 6 of his 9 weeks on their team.

And Rodon's agent was Boras.

Gregory Santos. Boy, was that a brain fart.

Maybe, just maybe, the White Sox would like to show interest to get him to talk about his conditioning now compared to all the times he was injured, then when he opens up, they have evidence to sue him for his salary.

This year. 2025.

Who is fixated? Cholowsky is the consensus top prospect for the 2026 draft right now and has been since about May of last year. I'm sure the Sox will scout the whole projected first round. Everybody's going to insert Cholowsky's name as shorthand for "first pick of the 2026 draft" until or unless he plays himself out of that distinction.

I'm not even sure what's being argued, here, but asking Grok how long Cholowsky has been considered the top 2026 draft prospect, I got:

Good job. We're all going to have to step on each other's jokes a lot for the next month while Caulfield is on his self-imposed hiatus. Maybe @Bob Sacamano will want to help out by referencing a list of 80's era Cub players who have absolutely nothing to do with the convo. Do you even know who's going to be the 2033 Game 3 World Series starter for the Sox? Is he even in the system? Ohtani also made an impact on the mound for LA, making his return to pitching in June after an almost two-year layoff, following two procedures, including one to repair the right ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow and his left shoulder last offseason. In 14 starts, he went 1-1 with a 2.87 ERA and had 62 strikeouts. The second-straight MVP award comes after posting a historic season last year in which he became the first player in MLB history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single campaign. cnn.com

If they won the Super Bowl, something tells me they're still having the parade in Chicago.

Ohtani and Jonathan Cannon are both pro baseball pitchers. There, now you have two.

We all have more weight to pull, now that Caulfield's going to be wearing out that Padres' board.

Except the FutureSox podcasts with Dylan Barnas and Elijah Evans. Those guys speak way too fast as it is.

It's a grego.